A monochromatic color palette includes several variations of a single hue. You might think that a color scheme like this would appear dull and boring, especially compared to energetic, high-contrast palettes. But as you’ll see in a moment, monochromatic colors can add a lot of depth and dynamism to a design if used correctly.
Check out these beautiful monochromatic color palettes. Hex codes are included if you want to use the colors in your next design.
1. Amber
Names: Amber, Mikado yellow, Sunglow, Mustard, Jasmine
Hex Codes: #FFBF00, #FEC61F, #FDCD3D, #FCD45C, #FADA7A
Shades of sunny or lemon yellow can often start to look too vivid. Bright yellow accents may work well in some designs. But in others, they can easily overwhelm an audience.
Rich, ambery shades of golden yellow like the ones shown above work beautifully as alternatives. Starting with Amber and ending with Jasmine, these colors blend effortlessly into one another to create a smooth gradient. If your current project involves a gradient effect and needs to be based around a warm color, this is a palette worth considering. Or if you need a single shade of gold-tinged yellow, you might find that one of these is perfect!
2. Beige
Names: Beige, Eggshell, Pearl, Dutch white, Desert sand
Hex Codes: #F5F5DC, #F1EDD1, #ECE4C6, #E8DCBB, #E3D3AF
Beige is an endlessly popular neutral, especially in the world of interior design. And considering the sheer variety of beige shades — from warm to cool and pale to saturated — there’s one for every taste.
The above beige palette includes many different shades of warm beige. It starts with what looks like a shade of warm white and gradually moves toward a pleasantly peachy beige. It’s a palette that can be layered almost effortlessly — for an interior, you can simply choose one shade for the couch, one for the walls, another for the rug, etc.
3. Black
Names: Black, Night, Eerie black, Raisin black, Jet
Hex Codes: #000000, #0E0D0D, #1C1919, #2A2626, #383232
Lots of people think of black as a single color. However, there are plenty of different shades of black. Some are deep and dark. Others have a faded, almost sunbleached look.
If your design includes a lot of black, consider using a monochromatic black palette like the one pictured. An all-black design might seem overly dramatic, even impractical. But there are a few instances where it can prove to be strikingly effective.
For instance, lots of designs involve a black background with white text. You can add some visual interest by incorporating a gradient of the black shades in the palette above. Alternatively, you can start with a white background and shade the text with the various tints of black.
4. Blue
Names: Blue, Chrysler blue, Medium blue, Zaffre, Resolution blue
Hex Codes: #0000FF, #0808E0, #1010C0, #1818A0, #1F1F80
This color palette takes the lazuli-like energy of Blue and tempers it with the deeper, cooler Zaffre and Resolution Blue. That wide color range means that even though this color grouping technically makes up a monochromatic palette, it’s an incredibly dynamic one.
Unlike some of the other palettes on our list, this one has enough contrast that you can create colorblocked designs or use some of the shades in patterns. For example, if you wanted to create a design with stripes, you could put stripes of Zaffre or Resolution Blue over a background of Blue or Chrysler Blue.
5. Bronze
Names: Bronze, Ochre, Copper, Tiger’s eye, Golden brown
Hex Codes: #CD7F32, #C4782D, #BA7027, #B06922, #A6611C
This color palette leans a little more orange than the name would imply. Its overall burnt-orangish cast makes it a great choice for autumn-inspired designs. And if you’re creating a 3D image, these closely related colors are ideal for shading.
In many cases, including too much orange (or even too much of an orangish neutral) in a color palette can start to make it seem overly warm. If your design is at risk of this, try adding a darker, cooler color to introduce some contrast.
Because this color palette includes a good bit of orange (and orange and blue are complementary colors), you might consider adding a background of deep navy blue.
6. Brown
Names: Brown, Seal brown, Café noir, Bistre, Eclipse
Hex Codes: #633200, #562E06, #492A0B, #3C2610, #2E2115
Brown has a somewhat undeserved reputation for being dull. But when used carefully, this earth-inspired shade is ideal for grounding bright color schemes, adding contrast, or serving as a backdrop to help your non-neutrals shine.
This monochromatic palette includes more variety than many. Some browns lean cooler and others lean warmer, and this color grouping has some of each! Brown and Seal Brown have lively reddish undertones. Café Noir is a little less reddish, and Bistre and Eclipse are darker with cooler, blue-tinted undertones. If you’re working on a design that needs to be both monochromatic and high-contrast, consider juxtaposing Brown and Eclipse.
7. Burgundy
Names: Burgundy, Paprika, Madder, Red (ncs), Cardinal
Hex Codes: #6E0A1E, #850C24, #9C0D2A, #B30F30, #C91035
Burgundy is a rich, red-purple shade that is especially well-suited to regal, luxuriant designs. You often see it paired with gold or ivory (or both). But as you can see here, it also does surprisingly well in a monochromatic arrangement.
It’s possible to create a successful design using almost entirely red, but be sure to use caution — red is so energetic and so powerful that it can quickly make any design seem overwhelming. A good rule of thumb with monochromatic designs is to take the coolest shade and use that shade for your base or background color.
For example, if you were creating an all-red or mostly-red room, you’d want to start with Burgundy walls. You could then add a Paprika area rug and incorporate couches, chairs, and other furniture in Madder, NCS Red, and Cardinal.
8. Burnt Sienna
Names: Burnt sienna, Cinnabar, Jasper, Rust, Sienna
Hex Codes: #E97451, #D56442, #C05332, #AB4222, #963112
This bold, orangish palette is reminiscent of the red soil of the American Southwest. It’s the perfect color collection to choose if your design features a canyon or a desert environment. Burnt Sienna and Cinnabar are light enough to capture the beauty of sun-touched surfaces, and Sienna and Rust can depict the shadows of rocks. If you need a few accent colors in your design, try sticking with the desert theme and adding some cactus greens, sky blues, and cloud whites.
9. Champagne
Names: Champagne, Deep champagne, Sunset, Peach orange, Gold (crayola)
Hex Codes: #F7E7CE, #F6DFBC, #F4D7AA, #F2CF98, #F0C786
If you like the look of gold but find it a little too deep and intense for your design, champagne and related shades are worth considering. These colors look a lot like washed-out shades of gold, and they can impart a dignified look to just about any design — whether it’s on the screen or in real life.
This color palette makes an interesting alternative to beige if you’re designing an interior. It’s not at all uncommon to design a living room almost entirely in shades of beige. Instead, you might try a room with Crayola Gold walls, Champagne couches, a Deep Champagne rug, and accent pillows in Sunset and Peach Orange.
10. Chartreuse
Names: Chartreuse (traditional), Lime, Spring bud, Mango green, Chartreuse (web)
Hex Codes: #DFFF00, #C8FF00, #B0FF00, #98FF00, #80FF00
Need a fantastically bright array of greens? It doesn’t get much brighter than this palette. These intense shades can blend seamlessly into one another, so they’re especially useful if you’re creating a design that requires shading to create a 3D effect.
Any seasoned designer will tell you to be careful when using very bright shades like these. But in an otherwise dark or cool color scheme, these colors can make a major difference.
For example, let’s say you’re designing a poster. You might try a black background with Web Chartreuse text. At the center, you could include a 3D cube shaded with Traditional Chartreuse, Lime, Spring Bud, and Mango Green.
11. Cobalt Blue
Names: Cobalt blue, Marian blue, Yale blue, Berkeley blue, Oxford blue
Hex Codes: #0047AB, #033F94, #06377D, #092F66, #0B274F
The night sky has inspired artists and designers for centuries. And while this array of colors doesn’t only include blues like the ones you’d find in the night sky, the darker shades come close to the color of midnight blue. If your design needs to include both the vibrancy of Cobalt Blue and the depth of Oxford Blue, this grouping of colors offers both (and everything in between!).
If you want to include a neutral along with these colors, a shade of bright, cool white is ideal. Next to cool white, Cobalt Blue might remind you of the striking architecture of Santorini. Darker blues with hints of white call to mind a night sky with stars.
12. Cognac
Names: Cognac, Burnt umber, Falu red, Blood red, Black bean
Hex Codes: #9A463D, #88372E, #75281F, #621910, #4F0901
This color palette is a bit similar to the burgundy palette shown above. However, because it starts out with the less intense, brick-like Cognac, it doesn’t have the same bold energy. As a calmer grouping of colors, it may prove to be easier to work with.
Cognac and Burnt Umber both have a warm, ensconcing feel like that of terra cotta. So if you’re designing a bedroom, consider including Cognac walls and a bed with Burnt Umber sheets. From there, you could add a Falu Red rug, Blood Red accent pillows, and Black Bean nightstands.
13. Coral
Names: Coral, Atomic tangerine, Light salmon, Vivid tangerine, Melon
Hex Codes: #FF7F50, #FE8F66, #FD9E7C, #FCAE92, #FABDA7
This lively color palette might be monochromatic, but it seems to incorporate hints of many similar colors — tangerine, peach, coral, and maybe even a little salmon pink. Because of the dreamlike quality of these shades, they might work well in a cloud- or watercolor-inspired design that involves swirling them together.
Many people in the field of design will tell you to either avoid using orange or to use it with caution. The pinkish undertones of these shades soften them a bit, making them a little easier on the eyes.
14. Ebony
Names: Ebony, Gravel, Black olive, Heavy metal, Eerie black
Hex Codes: #555D50, #474E42, #383E34, #292E26, #1A1E17
This isn’t the first monochromatic black palette on the list. However, the shades of black here differ dramatically from the shades in the previously mentioned color palette. Ebony, Gravel, and Black Olive all have greenish undertones that give them a cooler, almost mysterious look. This smoky, eerie collection is ideal for spooky or Halloween-focused designs!
15. Fuchsia
Names: Fuchsia, Purple pink, Pinkish purple, Purple pizzazz, Bright neon pink
Hex Codes: #C154C1, #CE4FCE, #DA4ADA, #E645E6, #F23FF2
Can’t decide between hot pink and electric purple? Try a fuchsia-heavy color palette! Fuchsia’s cheery hue will make you think of bright pink flowers blooming in a meadow. And if you need to create a design that is almost entirely pink, this collection of fuchsia-related hues is ideal.
The subtle gradient between these hues means that they’re perfect for creating shading (like the shadows between the petals of a rose). For an unexpected blend of vintage and modern, try a floral pattern made with these colors on an ivory background!
16. Gold
Names: Gold (metallic), Burnt yellow, Gold foil, Dark gold, Dark goldenrod
Hex Codes: #DBB000, #CEA706, #C19D0B, #B49311, #A68916
When you imagine gold being used for a design, you might picture metallic shades. However, gold doesn’t have to be metallic to be memorable. This delightful blend of colors delivers the happy energy of yellow, but it’s burnished enough to have a more muted look.
You might not want to paint an entire room Burnt Yellow or give your website a background of Gold Foil, but this group of colors can still work nicely in a monochromatic color scheme. For example, let’s say you have a website with a plain white background. You might use Metallic Gold and Burnt Yellow shading to create 3D headline text. From there, you could then create line-based graphics using Gold Foil, Dark Gold, and/or Dark Goldenrod.
17. Gray
Names: Gray, Battleship gray, Gray cloud, Timberwolf, Bright gray
Hex Codes: #808080, #9B9B9B, #B6B6B6, #D1D1D1, #EBEBEB
Many people regard full-color images as the best way to grab an audience’s attention. But grayscale designs are captivating in their own right. This palette is great for creating truly unique grayscale designs — many designs in grayscale range from white to black (or near black). But since this color grouping ranges from Bright Gray to Gray, you can achieve a softer look than you get with a more traditional grayscale design.
18. Green
Names: Green, Vibrant green, Lime green, Kelly green, Pigment green
Hex Codes: #00FF00, #01E801, #01D101, #02BA02, #02A302
Compared to many other color palettes on the list, this one covers a lot of ground. It starts with Green, a color that (despite the ordinary name) is just about neon. But unlike the Chartreuse palette included earlier, this collection of shades leans a little darker and a little calmer. It ends with Pigment Green, a classic, verdant shade that’s just about the color many of us imagine when we think of green.
19. Indigo
Names: Indigo, Kingfisher daisy, Persian indigo, Deep violet, Midnight purple
Hex Codes: #4B0082, #420172, #390161, #300251, #260240
Indigo is a deep, stunning blue that’s commonly associated with the third eye chakra, the energy center most connected to spirituality. It’s a deep blue with just the slightest hint of violet.
Because of its complex nature, indigo is right at home in both monochromatic palettes that lean blue and those that lean more purple. This is a purple-heavy collection, but thanks to the emphasis on violet, it’s cooler and calmer than royal purple and related shades.
20. Lavender
Names: Lavender, Wisteria, Tropical indigo, Amethyst, Iris
Hex Codes: #DCD0FF, #BFAFEF, #A28EDE, #856DCE, #684BBD
If you like the range of the Indigo palette above but wish it were just a bit paler, this soft, floral-inspired group of colors might just be the perfect choice. It captures the sweet, quiet essence of lavender, the tumbling blooms of wisteria, and the stately petals of iris flowers.
There’s enough contrast between each of these shades that you can use this palette to create entirely monochromatic scenes. Iris is dark enough to keep everything grounded, and Lavender is pale enough that it makes an effective substitute for white.
21. Lilac
Names: Lilac, African violet, Pearly purple, Purpureus, Plum
Hex Codes: #C8A2C8, #BC87BC, #AF6BAF, #A34FA3, #963396
Mixing up lilac and lavender is easy to do. But when you juxtapose these colors as we’ve done here, the difference is easy to see: lavender has cool, purple undertones, but lilac is more pink.
Along with Lilac, the colors in this palette (with the exception of Plum) sit right between pink and purple. They’re not too warm and not too cool, and they’re especially useful for floral designs. Because some are much darker than others, these shades are perfect for creating the illusion of depth.
22. Magenta
Names: Magenta, Hot magenta, Shocking pink, Hollywood cerise, Magenta dye
Hex Codes: #FF00FF, #F505E1, #EB09C2, #E10DA3, #D61184
Magenta and its relatives may be too bright for some designs. But if you’re committed to pink and need something that commands attention, this grouping is just right. Like the Lavender palette above, this lively collection has enough contrast that you can use it to create entire scenes (or just contrasting designs). If you really want to highlight the energy of the colors, try placing the design on a black background.
23. Maroon
Names: Maroon, Barn red, Blood red, Rosewood, Chocolate cosmos
Hex Codes: #800000, #760404, #6C0808, #620C0C, #570F0F
Maroon and burgundy are similar shades, so it’s no wonder people mix them up! Both are rich in red, but burgundy includes a lot more purple. Maroon is also purplish, although it contains much more brown.
This monochromatic palette really emphasizes those brown undertones. Maroon, Barn Red, and Blood Red are all shades rich in red. But once you get to Rosewood and Chocolate Cosmos, the close relationship to brown really becomes clear.
24. Mauve
Names: Mauve, Pale violet, Bright lavender, Easter purple, Amethyst
Hex Codes: #E0B0FF, #D49DF7, #C789EF, #BA76E7, #AD62DF
Mauve is a shade of purple that’s the same color as the mallow flower. If you’re unfamiliar with the mallow flower, its petals are a pale shade of purple that’s roughly between pink and very pale violet.
This pretty, soft-colored palette captures the beauty of the mallow flower and a few other blooms, too. If you want your design to capture the frosty glow of an amethyst crystal or the soft, springlike appeal of new petals, this grouping of colors is the ideal choice!
25. Mustard
Names: Mustard, Sandstorm, Saffron, Gold tips, Goldenrod
Hex Codes: #FFDB58, #F7D043, #EFC52D, #E7BA18, #DEAE02
Mustard yellow is a vintage-inspired color that’s made quite a comeback, particularly in the realm of interior design. Mustard-colored couches and chairs have a timeless appeal, and they offer you the opportunity to create incredible contrast.
But have you ever thought about basing a monochromatic design around mustard? This approach might not be the best one for interiors. But for a website or other digital design, it’s worth trying! Mustard and the related shades in this palette are muted enough to not cause eye strain, so you might find that they work well when used for a website background.
26. Orange
Names: Orange, Pumpkin, Safety orange, Cadmium orange, Orange (wheel)
Hex Codes: #FF6900, #FF710E, #FE791B, #FE8128, #FD8835
Looking to create a super-bright monochromatic design? Orange is generally bright and lovely, but these particular orange shades are especially so. You probably wouldn’t want to design an entire room (or an entire website) using these colors. But you might consider creating a smaller, monochromatic focal point.
For instance, let’s say you’re designing a living room that is mostly blue, but you decide it needs a little more warmth. You might consider designing a piece of abstract art using a swirling blend of the orange shades shown above. If you place that piece above the couch, it adds a warm, lively burst that can really transform the energy of a room.
27. Periwinkle
Names: Periwinkle, Maximum blue purple, Tropical indigo, Ultra violet, Resolution blue
Hex Codes: #CCCCFF, #A6A6E0, #8080C0, #5A5AA0, #343480
A palette of bright, saturated oranges might not be a great choice for designing an interior. However, this distinctive periwinkle palette works beautifully! Periwinkle itself is soft enough to make a beautiful wall color. You could introduce some contrast with a Resolution Blue bedspread or couch. Add an Ultra Violet rug and accent pillows of Maximum Blue Purple and Tropical Indigo, and you’ve got a truly unique and memorable room.
28. Pink
Names: Pink, Persian pink, Pastel magenta, Lavender pink, Fairy tale
Hex Codes: #FF66C4, #FD7DCC, #FB94D3, #F9ABDB, #F7C1E2
Pink is a shade that has long been associated with new spring blooms. Some pinks have more of a floral energy than others, but this palette is about as floral-inspired as they come. Pink and Persian Pink are fairly saturated, but Pastel Magenta, Lavender Pink, and Fairy Tale are soft and springlike.
The contrast between many of the shades here makes this palette a perfect one for a monochromatic digital design. If you need a design featuring 3D shapes, try creating a background of Pink, Persian Pink, and Pastel Magenta. You could then use Lavender Pink and Fairy Tale to create floating, 3D shapes — use the darker colors in the palette to create shading as needed.
29. Purple
Names: Purple, Patriarch, Palatinate, Russian violet, Dark purple
Hex Codes: #800080, #6D046D, #5A075A, #470A47, #330D33
If you love shades of rich, royal purple, this is a color palette you might want to use in your next design. It may be monochromatic, but it’s uniquely balanced: Purple, Patriarch, and Palatinate are all purple shades with primarily reddish undertones. But as the palette moves to Russian Violet and Dark Purple, those undertones become more blue. The result is a collection of monochromatic shades with a remarkably even warm-cool balance.
30. Red
Names: Red, Red (cmyk), Engineering orange, Cornell red, OU crimson
Hex Codes: #FF0000, #E30707, #C60E0E, #A91515, #8C1C1C
Some monochromatic color palettes involve a set of closely related shades. Others have a wider range. This group starts with a basic shade of red and quickly moves into the realm of deep, almost maroon-like colors. If you like the monochromatic look but still want your design to have a lot of contrast, this is a palette worth considering!
31. Royal Blue
Names: Royal blue (web), Byzantine blue, Violet blue, Dark cornflower blue, Royal blue (traditional)
Hex Codes: #4169E1, #365AC3, #2B4AA4, #203A85, #152A66
Blue is an incredibly versatile shade. Whether you’re creating a website, designing an advertisement, or decorating a living room, it’s a viable option. This particular group of blues covers a lot of ground — it goes from bright, vivid Web Royal Blue to the deeper, marine-like hues of Dark Cornflower Blue and Traditional Royal Blue.
There’s enough contrast between the two ends of this palette that you could even create blue-on-blue patterns. For example, you might consider an argyle design featuring Dark Cornflower Blue and Traditional Royal Blue placed over Web Royal Blue.
32. Salmon
Names: Salmon, Coral pink, Light salmon pink, Melon, Tea rose (red)
Hex Codes: #FA8072, #F78F84, #F49E95, #F1ADA6, #EDBCB7
Shades of salmon pink go nicely with charcoal grays, dark greens, and deep blues. But if you haven’t ever taken a collection of salmon shades and used them in a monochromatic palette, you’re missing out!
The colors shown above might work well as a website background. Shades of pastel pink can sometimes have a childish connotation, but pale salmon pinks aren’t generally thought of in the same way.
33. Seafoam Green
Names: Seafoam green, Medium aquamarine, Ocean green, Mint, Zomp
Hex Codes: #71EEB8, #68DAA9, #5FC69A, #56B28B, #4D9E7B
Green is generally considered to be a springlike shade. The exception is seafoam green, an ocean-inspired color that you usually see in summery designs. This palette starts with Seafoam Green and moves toward deeper shades. However, because these saturated colors have bluish undertones, they seem like a natural progression from Seafoam Green. If you’re creating a monochromatic design that needs to be cool, energizing, and refreshing, this is an ideal palette!
34. Silver
Names: Silver, Silver sand, Silver gray, Neon silver, Shiny nickel
Hex Codes: #C0C0C0, #C3C5C6, #C6C9CC, #C9CED2, #CCD2D7
When you think of gray, you might picture a dull, uninteresting neutral. But pale, silvery shades of gray like the one pictured have a particular magic.
At first glance, these five shades of silver might look extremely similar. But if you look very closely, you’ll see that as you go from left to right, these neutrals get progressively cooler. Silver and Silver Sand might be considered “warm grays,” while Neon Silver and Shiny Nickel have a cooler appearance. The differences are slight, but if you’re looking to create a design with subtle shading, this palette might be just right.
35. Taupe
Names: Taupe, Dark lava, Umber, Quincy, Pastel brown
Hex Codes: #483C32, #534438, #5D4C3E, #685444, #725C4A
Taupe is a shade of brown that has some gray undertones, so it manages to be both earthy and cool. It might not seem like the most exciting color to choose for a design. But if you’re creating a website or advertisement for a nature-focused organization, it’s a smart choice. You might consider creating an ombre-style design, blending these colors together, and then adding an image of a newly sprouted plant above.
36. Teal
Names: Teal, Dark cyan, Light sea green, Verdigris, Robin egg blue
Hex Codes: #008080, #159393, #2AA6A6, #3FB9B9, #54CCCC
Teal is a color that combines all the good qualities of blue and green into a single shade. It can seem both invigorating and soothing, and if you’re creating a design with maximum contrast, it does especially well when placed next to cool white.
Whether you use it alongside white or not, teal is a great shade to use in a monochromatic color palette. In this particular palette, we see Teal becoming gradually lighter until it ends up as Robin Egg Blue. Thanks to that gradual lightening, you might find that this palette is a great choice for water-inspired designs.
37. Turquoise
Names: Turquoise, Medium turquoise, Maximum blue green, Keppel, Persian green
Hex Codes: #40E0D0, #30D3C3, #20C6B5, #10B9A8, #00AB9A
Turquoise is a color that a lot of people confuse for teal. But while teal has cooler undertones and leans more blue, turquoise has brighter undertones and looks more green. Turquoise is roughly the color of tropical waters, and it’s one of the most energetic cool colors you can find.
If your design is inspired by summer, the tropics, or both, you might find that an all-turquoise design is the right choice. One strategy is to use lighter shades like Medium Turquoise and Turquoise for the background and then use darker shades like Persian Green in the foreground.
38. Violet
Names: Violet, Electric indigo, Grape, Rebecca purple, Eminence
Hex Codes: #7F00FF, #770FE0, #6E1EC0, #662DA0, #5D3B80
Purple is a color that comes in a huge variety of shades. This palette captures many of them — it goes from neon-like electric shades to deep royal purples to a dusty aubergine.
So how would you go about using a lively palette like this one? Large amounts of Violet and Electric Indigo can be a little overwhelming for an audience. However, you could use these brighter purples as accents in a design made mostly of Eminence and Rebecca Purple.
39. White
Names: White, Seasalt, White smoke, Anti-flash white, Bright gray
Hex Codes: #FFFFFF, #FAFAFA, #F5F5F5, #F0F0F0, #EBEBEB
Many people choose to paint their walls some version of off-white. When viewed alone, each of these colors looks like what most people would describe as plain white. But when you put these different whites next to one another like in the example color palette, the differences become clearer. As you move from White to Bright Gray, the palette becomes gradually darker.
This kind of color array is ideal for creating textures and other designs that require some level of shading. With careful placement of the darker shades of white, you can create a realistic 3D effect.
40. Yellow
Names: Yellow, Lemon, Canary, Middle yellow, Golden yellow
Hex Codes: #FFFF00, #FFF700, #FFEF00, #FFE700, #FFDF00
If you’re looking for a collection of very bright yellows, this is it! This color palette starts out with Yellow and Lemon, two very similar, very vivid shades. But unlike some of the palettes on our list, this one is made up of shades that are very closely related. If you incorporate Golden Yellow into a design with a good bit of Lemon and Yellow, you can create dimension with careful shading.
However, the yellows in this palette are so bright that they can make any design hard to look at if they’re used in sufficient quantities. Unless you’re creating a design that’s ultra-bright on purpose, you might want to include black, deep blue, or another darker color that can keep things grounded.
Using Monochromatic Colors in Your Design
In the right hands, monochromatic color palettes can create striking designs despite their limited range of colors. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you might end up with a project that simply looks flat and unremarkable.
If you haven’t created a monochromatic design before, you might find that it takes some experimentation to get an effect you like. It also might help to follow some general guidelines like the ones below.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Contrast
A monochromatic color scheme includes several variations of one base color, but those variations may have significant contrast between them. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a monochromatic design can’t have depth and dynamism!
So how exactly do you give a monochromatic palette this kind of depth? In most cases, it comes down to contrast. When you place high-contrast variations of a certain base color next to one another, you get a certain dimensionality you wouldn’t get otherwise.
Consider Incorporating Textures
Some designs use a range of contrasting colors to catch an audience’s eye and add interest. When you’re working with a limited color palette, adding a texture can be a great way to bring the image to life.
Take a look at the example image above. If you took the shades of yellow and made them into a flat background, the image would be unremarkable. But when the colors are arranged to mimic the texture of flower petals, you get a unique picture your audience will certainly remember!
Use Black or White to Make Designs Pop
In some cases, you might want to create more contrast than you can get with the monochromatic palette alone. If you’ve run into this issue, you may want to add some black or white — either as a background or incorporated into the image itself.
The image above shows you what difference a black background can make. The neon swirl design is made of many shades of light green. You could put the design on a white background, but the striking contrast between bright green and jet black really makes it pop!
Discover the Exciting World of Monochromatic Palettes
To the uninitiated, a color palette based around one color might sound anything but exciting. But when you embrace the challenge of designing with a limited color palette, you might find that you create some of your best designs yet!
Find more design inspiration in this collection of 24 themed color palettes.
